After Two Football Practices, UConn Staff Likes Results

STORRS — — It has been a small sample size over two days of spring football practice, hardly enough of an audition to draw a conclusion.

But as Byron Jones transitions from safety to cornerback for UConn, his first few days on the field have been a success in the eyes of his coach. The shift began with the first day of spring drills Monday, and coach Paul Pasqualoni, whose eyes have been studying football practices for more than 40 years, has been keeping a keen watch on the redshirt junior.

The early returns?

"There's evidence that there's a feel for the position," Pasqualoni said after practice Tuesday. "There's some evidence there that he's made a couple of smart plays. After two days I would say that I'm encouraged — how he lines up and the leverage he takes on the receiver, he's used some intelligence and some smarts. For two days over there, he's looked pretty good."

Jones, a New Britain native and graduate of St. Paul-Bristol, will probably play a pivotal role in the UConn defense this fall. The Huskies had two experienced cornerbacks last year, but Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz are now preparing for the NFL, and the coaching staff needed replacements.

At 6 feet 1, Jones offers the size that Pasqualoni wants at the position. So after playing safety last year, Jones is learning a new position.

"It's going pretty smooth so far," Jones said. "I'm just trying to get used to playing on the edge instead of playing in the middle like a safety. I'm enjoying myself. I'm learning a lot. I'm learning new techniques. And I'm still playing football, no matter if it's at safety or the corner position. So I'm happy."

Jones has some college experience at cornerback, starting at the position after Wreh-Wilson was injured in 2011. He was a redshirt freshman still adjusting to safety, so he struggled at times when he shifted to corner.

Last year he was back at safety. But he points out that he was required to move up and guard slot receivers, so man-to-man pass coverage isn't foreign to him.

"It's just more of a mental game, being outside on the corner, being by yourself … you have to be confident out there," Jones said. "I think I'll get better as time goes on. I just have to get used to the position. You start to make decisions a little bit quicker as you get reps under your belt. That's why we're here in spring ball. We're here to get as many reps as we can to get better."

Jones also said he learned from watching Wreh-Wilson and Gratz last year. And he's continued to pick their brains since learning of his shift over the winter.

Besides asking questions about technique, Jones has inquired about the mental aspect of the position. Wreh-Wilson has been helpful in offering advice, Jones said.

"Just the confidence," Jones said. "He's a very confident cornerback. And using the physical size against the receiver, being physical and putting your hands on him, I think I learned from Blidi."

Pasqualoni was drawn to Jones' height and physicality, projecting him as a cornerback capable of covering receivers of all sizes. What he has seen after two days leads him to believe that Jones possesses the intangibles required for the position.

"His instinctive reactions to what happens in front of him is a big thing," Pasqualoni said. "And then reactionary athleticism is another big thing. When he reacts, how athletic is he? Well, he's one unbelievable athlete. So there's no problem there. It's the instinctive reactions that you're looking for. … There's some evidence that he's got that. Now, there's a long way to go."

Offense Struggles

There were four interceptions during offense vs. defense drills Tuesday, which means that the defensive backs had a good day. It also means that the offense turned the ball over, as Casey Cochran and Scott McCummings combined on the four interceptions. "We've got to do a better job, obviously, of taking care of the ball," Pasqualoni said. "We can't throw that number of interceptions. Turnovers were our biggest problem last year. … In the 2012 season, when we didn't turn the ball over, we won. We turned it over, we lost. That was kind of the way our season went." … New offensive coordinator T.J. Weist is an energetic presence on the field, bouncing from player to player and barking orders. "T.J. brings a lot of energy to the practice field," Pasqualoni said. "We've got coaches on both sides of the ball who are high-energy guys. And it's important in this game. It's just really, really important that you come out here and there's a lot of passion. I think you can see that."